An excavator provides a frame that includes an undercarriage having a ground engaging propeller (e.g. endless tracks) that enables the undercarriage to move the frame. The frame includes an upper portion that supports an elongated articulating boom having at least two boom sections that are pivotally connected. The frame provides an enclosure having a motor drive and a hydraulic system that powers the boom, and a cab rotatable upon the undercarriage about a generally vertical axis. The boom has a distal end with a bucket that has one or more bucket teeth. A scraper is connected to the boom distal end and provides another end that is extendable to a position generally below the cab and to the vertical axis. A connection joins the boom distal end to the scraper. The connection includes a connection of the bucket to the proximal end of the scraper and to the upper surface of the scraper wherein the bucket tooth connects to the scraper.
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15. An excavator, comprising:
a) a frame;
b) an undercarriage having a ground engaging propeller that enables the undercarriage to move the frame;
c) the frame including an upper working portion that supports an elongated articulating boom having at least two boom sections that are pivotally connected;
d) the frame including a cab having a motor drive and a hydraulic system that powers the boom, the cab rotatable upon the undercarriage about a generally vertical axis;
e) the boom having a distal end portion fitted with a bucket having a bucket tooth;
f) a scraper having one end connected to the bucket and another end that is extendable to a position generally below the cab;
g) a connection that joins the bucket to the scraper; and
h) the connection including a connection of the bucket to the proximal end of the scraper and to the upper surface of the scraper, wherein the bucket tooth connects to the scraper at a position that is in between the scraper ends.
1. An excavator, comprising:
a) a frame;
b) an undercarriage having a ground engaging propeller that enables the undercarriage to move the frame;
c) the frame including an upper working portion that supports an elongated articulating boom having at least two boom sections that are pivotally connected;
d) the frame including a cab having a motor drive and a hydraulic system that powers the boom, the cab rotatable upon the undercarriage about a generally vertical axis;
e) the boom having a distal end portion with a bucket that has one or more bucket teeth;
f) a scraper having one end connected to the boom distal end portion and another end that is extendable to a position generally below the cab and to the vertical axis;
g) a connection that joins the boom distal end to the scraper; and
h) the connection including a connection of the bucket to a proximal end of the scraper and to an upper surface of the scraper, wherein the bucket tooth connects to the scraper at a position that is in between the scraper ends.
2. The excavator of
3. The excavator of
8. The excavator of
11. The excavator of
12. The excavator of
13. The excavator of
14. The excavator of
16. The excavator of
17. The excavator of
19. The excavator of
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Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/058,799, filed 4 Jun. 2008, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.
Not applicable
Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to excavating devices and more particularly to an improved excavator that employs an elongated scraper connectable to an articulating boom that is powered by a hydraulic system of a rotating upper or cab that is mounted on a propelled lower (for example, tracked vehicle). In one embodiment, a quick release connection is formed between a bucket mounted on the distal end of the boom and a specially configured attachment that is on the proximal end portion of the scraper. In another embodiment, spaced apart openings at the distal end of the boom form connections with spaced apart openings on the proximal end of the scraper.
2. General Background of the Invention
Implements are typically employed that can be attached to an end portion of a commercially available hydraulic excavator, sometimes referred to as a “back hoe”. Hydraulic excavators or back hoes are known in the art, sold by Caterpillar® and others (www.cat.com). Such hydraulic excavators employ an undercarriage having a ground engaging propelling means such as endless tracks. The undercarriage supports an upper with an elongated articulating boom having at least two boom sections that are pivotally connected. Such back hoes also employ as part of the “upper” a motor drive that powers a hydraulic system that is used to move the boom. The cab is typically rotatable upon the undercarriage about a vertical axis. The distal end of the boom carries an implement such as a bucket.
Patents have issued that are directed to such excavators and implements that attach to the distal end of the boom. Examples are found in the following table.
The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:
TABLE
U.S. Pat. No.
TITLE
ISSUE DATE
3,214,041
Scoop for Front End Loaders
Oct. 26, 1965
3,706,388
Fork Attachment for a Loader Bucket
Dec. 19, 1972
3,749,262
Power Shovel with Scraper Blade
Jul. 31, 1973
Releasably Attached to the Shovel Bucket
4,125,952
Bucket Attachment
Nov. 21, 1978
4,242,035
Apparatus for Converting a Loader
Dec. 30, 1980
Bucket to a Pallet Loader
4,547,984
Brush Uprooting Attachment
Oct. 22, 1985
6,000,152
Culvert Cleaning Apparatus
Dec. 14, 1999
6,718,662
Do-All Rake-Tooth Bucket Extension
Apr. 13, 2004
Attachment
The present invention provides an improved hydraulic excavator that employs a frame, an undercarriage having ground engaging tracks or wheels that enable the undercarriage to move the frame. The frame includes an upper that supports an elongated articulating boom having at least two boom sections that are pivotally connected.
The frame includes a cab that rotates about a generally vertical axis upon the undercarriage. The cab or upper can contain an engine and a hydraulic system that powers the boom.
The boom has a distal end portion that includes a boom section and an extensible ram. The boom distal end can be connected to a digging implement such as a bucket having one or more teeth.
The present invention employs a scraper having one end connected to the boom distal end and another end that is extendable to a position generally below the cab and to the vertical axis. A connection joins the boom distal end to the proximal end of the scraper.
In one embodiment, a connection is perfected between the bucket and the proximal end of the scraper. The connection also connects to the upper surface of the scraper wherein the bucket teeth connect to the scraper.
In another embodiment, an end portion of the boom is pivotally connected at spaced apart locations to a connector on the proximal end of the scraper.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
The upper 14 supports a boom 16. The boom 16 can have boom sections 17, 18 and a boom distal end 19. The boom section 18 can employ extensible ram 20 having opening 21. The boom section 18 can provide a boom section end 22 having boom opening 23. Boom 16 distal end portion 19 is connectable to bucket 24. Bucket 24 has one or more bucket teeth 31.
The upper 15 rotates upon the undercarriage 11 about a generally vertical axis. The boom distal end 19 attaches to a scraper 25. Scraper 25 has a proximal end 26 and a distal end 27. Distal end 27 provides one or more digging or scraping implements 56 such as a tooth or teeth or blade. Connector 28 enables a connection to be formed between scraper proximal end 26 and boom distal end 19. In one embodiment, the connector 28 provides a pair of spaced apart fixtures 29, 30. These fixtures 29, 30 enable connections to be formed between bucket 24 and scraper 25 proximal end 26.
In
Fixture 29 is a fixture that is receptive of teeth (or tooth or blade) 31 of bucket 24. The fixture 29 has a lower plate or plates 37, upper plate or plates 38, side plates 40, 41 and socket 39 that is receptive of the teeth (or tooth or blade) 31 of bucket 24. Gusset plate 46 reinforces the connection of upper plate or plates 38 to a longitudinal beam 35.
Fixture 30 is positioned at proximal end 26 of scraper 25 and extending upwardly from upper surface 33. Fixture 30 provides vertically extending beams 45 that extend upwardly from a transverse beam 36 that is next to proximal end 26 of scraper 25. The upper end portions of beams 45 are connected with transverse beam 42. Side plates 43, 44 are attached (e.g. welded) to the sides of scraper 25 at a longitudinal beam 35 and a vertically extending beam 45. Plates 43, 44 can be generally triangularly shaped.
Padeyes 47, 48 can be attached (e.g. welding) to opposing sides of fixture 30. Each padeye 47, 48 has an opening 49. Bucket 24 is fitted with padeyes 50, each having an opening 51. Rod 52 connects bucket 24 to fixture 30 by passing through the openings 49 of padeyes 47, 48 and the openings 51 of padeyes 50 (see
In order to connect the frame sections together and to connect the implements 57 to the frame sections 54, 55, or 56, interlocking or connectable projections 59 and sockets 60 are provided. The implement 57 in
A common hitch type locking pin can be used to connect the implement 57 to the central frame section 54. Such locking pins are commonly employed for attaching a trailer hitch to a receiver on an automobile or truck. Other fasteners can be used to attach implements 57 to central frame sections 54 or 56 such as bolted connections, pins, rods or the like. As with the preferred embodiment, fixtures can be provided for enabling an attachment to be formed between bucket 24 and proximal frame section 55. Fixtures can include a fixture 29 that is basically the same as the fixture 29 in the preferred embodiment (
In
The dimensions for central frame section 54 and central frame section 56 can be between 20″ and 48″ wide, preferably around 45″ wide. The smaller the machine, the shorter it will be. The dimensions for the central frame section 54 and central frame section 56 can be 4′ long to about 6′ long. It is possible to use two of the same central frame sections 54 together. It is also possible to use one of central frame section 54 with one of central frame section 56 together.
A cable (not shown) can be used as a safety device to attach the various implements shown herein to a backhoe in the event of failure of pins holding the implements to the backhoe.
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.
PARTS LIST
Part Number
Description
10
excavator
11
undercarriage
12
endless track
13
enclosure
14
upper
15
cab
16
boom
17
boom section
18
boom section
19
distal end
20
extensible ram
21
opening
22
boom section end
23
boom opening
24
bucket
25
scraper
26
proximal end
27
distal end
28
connector
29
fixture
30
fixture
31
tooth/teeth/blade
32
upper surface
33
lower surface
34
scraper frame
35
longitudinal beam
36
transverse beam
37
lower plate
38
upper plate
39
tooth receptive socket
40
side plate
41
side plate
42
transverse beam
43
side plate
44
side plate
45
beam
46
gusset plate
47
padeye
48
padeye
49
opening
50
padeye
51
opening
52
rod
53
scraper
54
central frame section
55
proximal frame section
56
central frame section
57
implement
58
tooth/blade
59
projection
60
socket
61
fixture
62
bridge
63
debris/sediment
64
water line
65
arrow
66
arrow
67
implement/plow
68
deck
69
blade
70
upper beam
71
blade
72
perimeter
73
upper beam
74
mesh/screen
75
implement
76
drum
77
projection
78
frame
79
hydraulic motor
80
hydraulic line
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10738438, | Feb 22 2018 | Attachment for a bucket of a prime mover | |
8651237, | Jun 09 2010 | ROSE MARIE PULLIAM 2001 TRUST | Worker support cage for front end loader bucket |
9574321, | Sep 27 2014 | Ram that pushes soil from beneath buried pipe | |
9611622, | Jul 25 2013 | Excavating attachment with laterally pivotable working arm for excavating beneath a buried utility |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
3214041, | |||
3706388, | |||
3749262, | |||
4125952, | Oct 13 1977 | Bucket attachment | |
4242035, | Apr 16 1979 | Apparatus for converting a loader bucket to a pallet loader | |
4417628, | Oct 05 1981 | Earth boring apparatus | |
4547984, | Mar 27 1984 | Brush uprooting attachment | |
5953839, | Sep 22 1997 | Excavating attachment for earth moving equipment | |
6000152, | Jan 14 1998 | Culvert cleaning apparatus | |
6074160, | May 13 1999 | Grapple for loader bucket | |
6098321, | May 07 1999 | Bucket converter for an excavation bucket | |
6405460, | Jun 21 2001 | James, Whitmire | Excavator bucket attachment |
6718662, | May 06 2002 | Do-all rake-tooth bucket extension attachment |
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